Surrey City Centre in 2017

With 2017 now here, UrbanSurrey is taking a look at the year ahead and what to expect in City Centre over the next 12 months. Looking back at the past year, 2016 was a year of transition in Surrey City Centre, with a number of new construction projects started, a few continued from the previous year, and a number of new projects announced. In all, 2016 saw the highest amount of construction activity in City Centre’s history. By December, there were a total of 8 construction cranes on the Surrey skyline, a number unprecedented in any year past. In 2016, Surrey’s long planned for City Centre finally showed signs of coming to fruition, hitting a critical mass that will likely continue to unfold as the city continues to add new residents at a rapid pace.

Completion in 2017:

3 Civic Plaza | 52 Storeys | Hotel, Office, Condo, University, Retail

The long-awaited completion of 3 Civic Plaza will undoubtedly have the biggest impact on Surrey City Centre in 2017. The mixed-use building will breathe life and energy into the city’s Civic Plaza which up until now, has felt incomplete and lacked much activity. In all, the building will bring:

Park Avenue West | 41 Storeys | Condo

The 2nd tower of Concord Pacific’s Park Avenue development will see completion in 2017, following the opening of Park Avenue East in late 2016. This development will add people and activity to the growing high-density neighbourhood surrounding King George Station.

City Centre 2 | 12 Storeys | Office, Retail

The 2nd tower by Lark Group next to Surrey Memorial Hospital is expected to be completed by late 2017. Following City Centre 1, it will add 180,000 SF of office space, along with ground-level retail to the growing Innovation Boulevard district.

Gateway Place | 5 Storeys | Office, Retail

Bosa’s Gateway Place will bring much welcomed infill to the Gateway area when complete later this year. In addition to adding 56,000 SF of office space to the area, the development will also bring ground-level retail which will help to increase pedestrian traffic and improve the urban streetscape. Confirmed retail tenants already include a Nesters Market Grocery Store, Shoppers Drug Mart, and a TD Bank.

Continued construction in 2017:

Evolve | 36 Storeys | Condo, Office, Retail

After getting off to a slow start in 2016, WestStone Group’s Evolve will finally start to rise above ground in 2017. As it rises, the tower will soon become a new landmark within the West Village neighbourhood, and contribute to the on-going transformation of the area. When complete in 2018, in addition to condos, Evolve will bring ground level retail as well as offices within a 3 storey building connected to the base of the tower. Its completion in 2018 will also bring the opening of a new portion of 103 Avenue.

Prime on the Plaza | 37 Storeys | Condo, Retail

Macdonald / Reliance’s Prime on the Plaza will be one to watch in 2017 as the tower begins to rise above ground by late spring. As it rises, the tower will become a new landmark in Surrey City Centre, and help to fill in the city’s central core. When complete in 2018, the tower will bring condos, street-level townhouses, and retail along University Dr, along with the opening of a new portion of 103 Ave, and a new north-south ‘Urban Green Lane’.

SFU Sustainable Energy & Engineering Building | 5 Storeys

The much-anticipated and highly publicized SFU Sustainable Energy & Engineering Building will begin to transform the streetscape along University Dr in 2017. Designed by the late Bing Thom / Bing Thom Architects, the building is the first phase of multi-phase SFU expansion within Surrey City Centre. The building is located directly adjacent to the Prime on the Plaza development, which it will combine with to create a continuous new street wall along University Drive.

New projects in 2017:

Surrey Central Station Expansion and Upgrade

As part of TransLink’s ongoing SkyTrain Station Upgrades project, Surrey Central Station will be the next to undergo upgrades and expansion beginning in 2017. As part of the upgrades, a new North Station House will be constructed where the station meets Civic Plaza, better connecting SkyTrain riders to City Hall, 3 Civic Plaza, a re-configured on-street bus exchange, fronting a new 103 Avenue. The new station house will also introduce new retail units fronting 103 Avenue across from Civic Plaza. While under construction in 2017, a public art mural is set to be unveiled and installed over the station’s construction hoarding.

Innovation Village | 12 Storeys + 6 Storeys

WestStone Group’s controversial ‘Innovation Village’ project could finally break ground in 2017, after receiving preliminary approval (3rd Reading) by Surrey City Council in late 2016. The project which will replace a current mobile park is being developed as a mixed-use care facility, and will bring assisted seniors living and medical offices to the growing ‘Innovation Boulevard’ District surrounding Surrey Memorial Hospital.

West Village Park / District Energy Centre

The much anticipated West Village Park is set to begin construction in Spring 2017 and be complete by Fall. The West Village Park will be a new urban park in the West Village neighbourhood at the corner of 133 St and future 103 Ave. The park will add green space to this quickly densifying area. The park will feature an innovative District Energy Centre which will supply surrounding high-density buildings with heat and hot water.

The Hub @ King George Station (Phase 2)

PCI Group’s The HUB @ King George Station has been on hold for over a year now ever since the completion of its Phase 1 Coast Capital Savings Headquarters building in late 2015. While there have been no updates on Phase 2 in a while, its likely that this next phase could finally get underway in 2017. Phase 2 is set to include more office space, condos, retail, and Surrey City Centre’s first movie theatre.

Projects expected to move forward in approvals process in 2017:

In addition to this compilation of projects to watch in 2017, there remain many others under application not mentioned here that could also see movement in the upcoming year. In all, it will be an interesting year to watch in Surrey City Centre as some major projects wrap up, new ones get underway, others progress further through the approvals process, and some new surprises are announced.